By empty (8/25/2002 issue of the CACI Analyst)

The White House has issued a strongly worded statement condemning reported attacks by Russian aircraft on a remote region of Georgia which has further strained relations between the two ex-Soviet states. President George W Bush's spokesman said he was deeply concerned about the "credible" reports and regretted the loss of life and violation of Georgian sovereignty. Russia has denied that its air force mounted the attack and suggested it may have been part of a security operation by US-trained Georgian troops due to begin on Sunday.

By empty (8/25/2002 issue of the CACI Analyst)

Azerbaijan's Central Election Commission says 97% of voters have approved a series of amendments to the country's constitution. The referendum was seen by critics as paving the way for the ageing president, Heydar Aliyev, to hand over power to his son. With most votes counted, the commission said 88% of the population had turned up at polling stations, greatly exceeding the number required to validate the referendum.

By empty (8/24/2002 issue of the CACI Analyst)

Speaking at an emergency parliament session on 24 August, Nino Burdjanadze described the 23 August bombing raid as "outrageous" and argued that Georgia should shoot down aircraft that violate its airspace. Defense Minister Lieutenant General David Tevzadze said on 23 August that Georgia does not have antiaircraft weapons capable of downing planes flying at 8,000 meters. But President Eduard Shevardnadze said the same day that Georgia does have the capability to down intruding aircraft but will not use it in order not to exacerbate Russian-Georgian tensions.